Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698940418492.pdf (Zambia)
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS Mr. Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to issue a Ministerial Statement in respect of the act of that happened in Kitwe, and in response to the point of order raised by Hon.

Jack Mwiimbu on the same.

Mr. Speaker, On 15th July 2015 the UPND had a Provincial Conference in Kitwe and the Party President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema was the Guest of Honour.
The Zambia Police were notified about this function which was scheduled to start at 08:00 hours at Kitwe Show Grounds.

The Conveners of the meeting were advised to adhere and follow the guidelines of the notification and avoid places not indicated in the notice.

Mr Hakainde Hichilema arrived in Kitwe around 10:45 hours and went direct to the Greek Olive Club in Nkana West where he met UPND party officials for a briefing.
From the Greek Olive Club, the Party President visited Nkandabwe and St. Anthony Compounds where he greeted the residents before finally proceeding to the UPND Secretariat in Chachacha Township.

The confusion started at the UPND Secretariat as some suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres tried to disrupt the meeting.

However, Police Officers controlled the situation.

The motor vehicle which was being used was abandoned at the scene and upon searching; an axe, a machete, and a heap of stones were found.
The vehicle was accordingly impounded.

The UPND President with his entourage proceeded to Kitwe Show Grounds and the Conference ended incident free.

After the Conference, the entourage proceeded to Moba Hotel while waiting to feature on a paid-up radio programme at Radio lchengelo which was scheduled for 18:10 hours.

During this time, the radio station was making announcements that it would be hosting the UPND President in the studio.
This attracted a number of people who thronged the station and demanded that the management should not air the programme.

Due to hostility, the radio station could not go ahead with the programme.

Following the cancellation of the Radio Programme, the suspected PF Cadres proceeded to Moba Hotel where Mr. Hakainde Hichilema was.

At the hotel, the suspected PF cadres became confrontational to the extent that one of them discharged a firearm.
As a result, police officers used tear gas to disperse the unruly mob, apprehended and disarmed the one who had the firearm.

This angered the mob which tried to rescue their colleague.

The police arrested two (2) people perceived ring leaders and thereafter arrested nine (9) others.

Mr Speaker, My Ministry will not tolerate acts of violence for whatever reason.

This is evident by the action the Police took throughout this incident.
The eleven (11) people arrested have been charged with offences ranging from threatening violence, to obstructing Police from performing their duties, assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, and breach of the peace.

Those arrested and charged were scheduled to appear in court on the 20th and 21st July 2015.

Further, the Police impounded three vehicles: a Mitsubishi Rosa, a Ford, and an lsuzu which are parked at Kitwe Central Police Station and are still under investigations.
One Browning Pistol with seven (7) rounds of ammunition was recovered by the Police; an axe, a machete, and stones were also found in one of the vehicles recovered by the Police.

Investigations to bring more culprits to book have continued.

Mr Speaker, The Government is saddened by the continued violence among political activists, and especially that even firearms are being used in public places.
The Zambia Police is adequately equipped to contain all forms of violence in our society regardless of the status of the perpetrators.

No one is above the law.

All Political Parties and Civil Society Organisations should therefore follow the provisions of the law and guidance given to them by security agencies for their own safety.

We shall uphold the law to the letter.

To conclude, My Ministry shall continue to provide security to all people living in Zambia without any discrimination.
The actions carried out by the police throughout this incident confirm and demonstrate our earnest desire to uphold the law without discrimination.

It is, therefore, uncalled for anyone to suggest that our people should arm themselves in self-defence.

I thank you Sir.